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Horses of the Month for 2020
March 2020
The Exmoor Pony
(Photo provided by
http://exmoorwildlifesafaris.co.uk/exmoor-info/exmoor-ponies )
The United Kingdom Rare Breeds Survival Trust declared the Exmoor Pony to be "endangered”. The population numbers are estimated to be less than 500 in Great Britain. 2010 there were estimated to be around 800 Exmoor ponies worldwide.
Exmoor ponies are usually dark bay with pangare markings around the eyes, muzzle and flanks and underbelly. No white markings are allowed on the registered bred. They stand at 11.1 to 12.3 hands and could reach 13.2hh.
(Photo provided by
https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/6244833 © Copyright Chris Morgan )
Exmoor’s hardiness makes it perfect for conservation grazing, and assist in the management of different types of grasslands, pastures, and to the conservation of Exmoor, UK itself.
In the late 1800s, the National Pony Society began to register Exmoors and Exmoor crossbreds. In 1921, the Exmoor Pony Society was formed, and published its first Stud Book in 1963. Registered purebred Exmoor’s were branded with a four-point star on the near (left) shoulder until the 2000s which attracted criticism.
It is now limited to semi feral ponies as the preference of breeders. In 2000, the Moorland Mousie Trust, a British organization, assist in the preservation of the Exmoor pony.
(Photo provided by http://www.exmoorponytrekking.co.uk/)
They were used as pit ponies in the past for mining as far back when the Romans came to the UK for mining tin. Today some ponies are shown – driving, riding and agility and even winning at the International Horse Agility Championships in 2011.
February 2020
"Jagger"
(Photo provided by Ms. Shields.)
The horse of the month is Jagger, a 14 year old registered Paint, owned by Michele Shields of Bainbridge, WA.
January 2020
The Haflinger
In 1946, an effort by breeders concentrated on establishing purebred Haflingers.
As of 2005, almost 250,000 Haflingers existed worldwide.
Haflinger breeding farms operate in several countries – United States, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, England, and Italy however most of the breeding stock still comes from Austria.
In 2003, a Haflinger became the first horse to be cloned, resulting in a filly named Prometea.
Haflingers have many uses, including light draft, harness work, and various under-saddle disciplines
such as endurance riding, equestrian vaulting, and therapeutic riding. They are also still used by the Austrian and German armies for work in rough terrain.
The World Haflinger Federation, the international governing body that controls breed standards for the Haflinger, is made up of a confederation of 22 national registries, and helps set breeding objectives, guidelines, and rules for its member organizations. More information is available at the following links:
World Haflinger Federation
The Haflinger Society of Great Britain
The American Haflinger Registry
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